Odd factoids

[winjim]

The holder of the Guinness world record for "greatest engagement faux pas" was Gordon Bennett, who got so roaringly drunk at a party hosted by his fiancée's father that he urinated into a fireplace in full view of all the guests. The engagement was called off and the ensuing scandal led him to emigrate from the United States to Europe and to carry on running his newspaper business from on board his luxury yacht.

This is the origin of the phrase "Gordon Bennett".

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The average temperature (across a year) on the summit of Ben Nevis is 0C

 

[ClichéGuevara]

Odd factoids always outnumber even factoids, and nobody knows why.

 

[Threevok]

Tom Jones is banned from over 20 workingmen's clubs in South Wales, for stealing the Chicken Dinner Raffle, after getting paid off early.

and before you say, it is indeed Not Unusual

 

[Drago]

Emmerdale Farm was renamed Emmerdale after Farm Foods threatened to sue.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

The prize for the winner of the most repetitive job in the world was to be part of a pop record.

John Anderson can be heard in the background of the Ben E King track "stand by me" carrying out his daily task of match tester.

 

[raleighnut]

Odd factoids always outnumber even factoids, and nobody knows why.

+1.

 

[jefmcg]

With numbers that represent a numerical quantity (eg bank balance or crowd size, but not phone numbers or credit card numbers), there is a nearly 50% chance the leading digit will be a 1 (30%) or 2 (15%), than any bigger digit.

 

[bruce1530]

When I was a kid, Gordon Bennett lived in the house two doors along from us. His brother, Billy Bennett, was in my brother’s class at school.

They had a caravan, but no car.

 

[NorthernDave]

Popular 1990's medical drama Dangerfield was cancelled by the BBC due to a threat of legal action by Rodney Dangerfield for using his name without permission.

Plans were made to bring the series back after the comedians death in 2004, but the BBC couldn't agree terms with Nigel Havers hair and the idea was shelved.

 

[TVC]

The role of Elsie Tanner in Corontion Street was originally offered to Lance Percival.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Gullible is derived from the French "Gulle Les Boules". This is a technique used by boules or "Petanque" players where the "boule" is thrown in a high arc before swooping down on the target boule in the manner of a seagull.

 

[Drago]

The actor Helen Worth played E.T.

 

[NorthernDave]

Despite what your television might suggest, orange is not the new black.

 

[Tim Hall]

When I was a kid, Gordon Bennett lived in the house two doors along from us. His brother, Billy Bennett, was in my brother’s class at school.

They had a caravan, but no car.

When I was a kid Bill Bennett found fame/notoriety by falling from a Big Wheel at travelling fair and breaking his legs.